To say that we have had a wet winter is a bit of an understatement. I don’t ever recall such constant rain for so long- which is creating a haven for fungus and thrush. I am providing tips on caring for your horse or pony, although if you have your own, share with me! I ‘m always looking for new solutions.
Rain Rot:
We rinse our horses and ponies with a white vinegar and water, leaving it on, to combat the acidity of the rain, in the hopes that it doesn’t turn onto rain rot. Rain rot occurs in many ways, a lower immune system won’t fight off the harmful fungus bacteria on the skin causing it… so keeping your horse stress free and healthy is key. Cleaning their coats/skin regularly without stripping them of their natural oils and defense is also key. Currying helps stimulate the natural oils as well as loosening and removing the dirt and mud.
Body clipping allows us to better reach and clean our horses, but the downside is that when we aren’t regularly caring for them, the rain rot also can better reach them… so be sure that you are daily or semi daily taking care of them if they are body clipped.
In addition to vinegar, lotions can be a big help. MTG and Equiderma are both topical anti fungal lotions that can be applied on the effected area. They also have anti fungal shampoos that work. Read the directions on each to get the best out of it. Another lotion I have had much success with is called Bio Skin, made by a German company called LeoVet. all of these products can be picked up at either the Camden Tack Room, or the local Waxhaw Tack Shop.
Thrush:
Thrush is becoming an issue with all the mud and moisture that we have had to put up with. In all the wash stalls we have bottles of bleach spray dilution to be sprayed every time that we pick their hooves, which we do every time we ride. Typically this keeps thrush at bay, however sometimes we need to do more. Keep an eye on deep crevices in their frogs, between their heel bulbs. Lots of times we gloss over this critical area looking for loose and sprung shoes, and rocks and debris that might cause soreness, never actually checking this area for the Thrush that is lurking beneath…
These deep crevices need additional thrush medication- Thrush buster with a narrow neck to insert into the crevice works well. Although it states that weekly suffices, don’t believe it- treat every time you pick their feet until the frog fills in with healthy tissue. Until then, the dark crevice will harbor the fungus “thrush” which continues to eat away at their flesh, a painful affliction which compromises the integrity of the whole foot. You’ve heard the saying- no hoof, no horse… believe it. A simple touch of this fungus can cripple your horse.
If your horse is now lame due to thrush, a more aggressive treatment is in order- first wash out with water, eliminating the mud in the crevice. Then use a betadine solution and stuff gauze in the crevice, enough to prevent dirt from settling in again, but not so much that it creates pressure. After a few days of this, keeping the betadine infused gauze in there as much as possible- replacing at least daily, you are ready for to apply the antibiotic “Today” and “Tommorow” which is alternated daily. This is labeled for mastitis in cows but is great for equine thrush. Continue to keep the gauze stuffed in the crevice to prevent more mud from seeping in. After a week or so of this treatment, you are probably ready to continue with the thrush buster medication. Stay diligently on top of this until the crevice is gone because the moment you stop, the thrush will start back. Dr Sam can provide an ointment to apply which numbs the area to get back to riding sooner. This doesn’t however, cure the underlying problem.
Lets hope that this wet weather comes to an end soon, in the meantime, come out to visit your horse, hand walking and hand grazing when they can’t go out, and keep them groomed and cared for… the sun will come out… tomorrow…